Makes announcement a week after promotion.
By: Joseph Harvie
One week after being sworn in as police chief, Frederick Thompson handed in his resignation, effective Sept. 1.
Chief Thompson, who submitted his resignation at the end of last week, said he had been planning his retirement for about the last five years and that his plans were common knowledge in the department.
Chief Thompson has been a South Brunswick police officer for 25 years, moving through the ranks. He was deputy chief for the last three years.
Chief Thompson took over for retiring Chief Michael Paquette on Chief Paquette’s final day. He was sworn in at 3 p.m. March 31.
Township Manager Matt Watkins said he made the decision to give Chief Thompson the position on the same day he was sworn in. Under the council-manager form of government, the manager appoints all department heads.
Mr. Watkins said he had heard Chief Thompson might retire soon, but was not positive he would.
"It was always a thought of his, but to know for sure, I didn’t," he said. "I couldn’t. People can say whatever they want."
Mr. Watkins said he will begin the process of choosing the next chief, but said he does not know when a successor will be named. He said he has no immediate plans to name a new deputy chief.
Chief Thompson said he wouldnot make a recommendation for his replacement until he discusses it with Mr. Watkins.
South Brunswick police spokesman Detective James Ryan said Chief Thompson’s salary increased by about $7,000 a year, from $114,000 to $121,000, due to the promotion. He said Chief Thompson could expect a $2,000 increase in his pension payments because of the promotion.
Council members were notified of the swearing-in ceremony about three hours before it began. Several said they did not receive notification until after the ceremony.
Other members of the council said they would have liked to have been at the ceremony.
"I never found out there was an actual ceremony," Councilman Chris Killmurray said. "There was only an indication that there would be an announcement made."
Mr. Killmurray said he received an e-mail prior to the swearing in ceremony that an announcement would be made but not that there was going to be a ceremony. He said he received information about the ceremony in his Township Council meeting packet, which he received a day after the ceremony.
Councilwoman Carol Barrett said she would have liked to have known about the ceremony at least a few days prior to the event.
"It leaves us at a disadvantage," Ms. Barrett said, "especially when we are not kept abreast as to what is going on in town. I find it extremely upsetting when someone will ask me a question and I have to say ‘I don’t know.’ "
Ms. Barrett and Mr. Killmurray said this is not the first time the council has been left out of the loop regarding police promotions.
They said they were not informed of the ceremony promoting officers Andrew Hubbard and Jeff Karpisak to sergeant on March 15.
Councilman Joe Camarota said he also would have liked to have attended the ceremony. He said he found out about it an hour prior to the event. He said it was a communication "snafu" that he would like to see fixed.
"If I was notified a day ahead of time, I would try to have made it, but a two-hour notice is not enough time because I work," Mr. Camarota said.
Mr. Camarota said the decision to appoint Chief Thompson was one made entirely by Mr. Watkins, but council members did have conversations with the manager about the decision.
"It is solely his decision," Mr. Camarota said. "He can ask council for input, but it is his decision and we have to respect whatever his decision is."
Ms. Barrett also said that she would have liked the council to have had more input into the decision.
"I would have wanted to have known I selected him because, out of the people I interviewed, he was the most qualified," she said.
Chief Thompson said that even though he is retiring, his goals for the department have not changed. He said he wants to see promotions made to fill empty ranks in the department, and that he wants to focus on traffic problems facing the town.
"I gave a lot of thought as to what I would want to accomplish as chief," Chief Thompson said. "They are all in reach. I was careful not to extend myself into areas I could not impact."

